Zimbabwe: Kariba Mayor in U.S.$680 Tyre Debt

Kariba Mayor Nicholas Hwindiri is failing to pay US$680 for tyres he bought on credit from a local company. Mayor Hwindiri allegedly bought the tyres from Mark Tyres in June last year on the pretext that he was making an order for Kariba Municipality. The company has since engaged the services of a debt collector, Fast Cash Debt Recovery Services, to recoup the money.

Mayor Hwindiri has been issued with summons to pay the US$681, including recovery costs.

The mayor on Tuesday confirmed owing the company, but said the the tyres were not ordered through Kariba Municipality.

"I am looking for the money my brother, but the tyres for Kariba Municipality were paid for," he said.

"We bought five tyres from the company last year and I also borrowed two for my own car and it is those two that I should pay for. It is only that I do not have the money at the moment and I have tried to borrow from relatives and friends, but no one has got ready cash.

Many people have promised to give me at the end of this weekend and as soon as I get the money, I will give them."

Mayor Hwindiri added: "Please my brother do not publish this story because it is not good for my career and moreover, elections are around the corner."

According to the summons, the company has written numerous letters of demand which the mayor has ignored.

You are hereby summoned that you do within seven days after the service of this summon upon you enter or cause to be with me and also the plaintiff's legal practitioner at the address specified herein appearance to answer the claim of the plaintiff herein for US$681 plus interest calculated at the rate of five percent per annum, and costs thereof, particulars whereof hereon/attached in the plaintiff's declaration, read the summons.

If you allege any exception, defence or counter claim you must within seven days after appearance deliver to me and the plaintiff's legal practitioner a statement in writing of the nature and grounds thereof.

This is not the first time that Mayor Hwindiri has had a brush with the law.

In November 2011, he spent a night in prison after he failed to raise maintenance arrears amounting to US$800.

Hwindiri had in 2010 been ordered to pay US$100 per month to his ex-lover, Ms Paulina Jamu of Karoi, for the upkeep of their child by a Harare Magistrates' Civil Court. This was with effect from November 1 the same year. Between January 1 and October 31 last year, Hwindiri defaulted on eight occasions resulting in the maintenance fees accruing to US$800.

Ms Jamu sought the courts' intervention.

Mayor Hwindiri was arrested and spent a night at Karoi Prison before his friends and relatives came to his rescue the following day when they raised the outstanding money.

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